# havoc

/ˈhævək/ (US) · /hˈævək/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/havoc
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. chaos and damage

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where there is a lot of damage, confusion, or lack of order.

For teachers: widespread destruction, devastation, or chaotic disorder. Usually uncountable.

- The heavy snowstorm caused havoc on the motorways this morning.
- The sudden change in interest rates played havoc with the company's long-term financial planning.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'wreak havoc'.

### 2. to cause damage

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to cause a lot of trouble or damage to something.

For teachers: to bring about devastation or chaos. Transitive use is less common than the noun form.

- The invading army continued to havoc the countryside for weeks.
- The storm proceeded to havoc the coastal villages, leaving a trail of ruined homes in its wake.

Usage: Often appears in older texts or poetic descriptions of war.

## Examples

- The storm caused havoc in the city center.
- A sudden computer virus played havoc with the company's internal scheduling system for several days.
- The introduction of invasive species can wreak havoc on local ecosystems, often leading to the rapid decline of native flora and fauna.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.